Are there any links to Montessori teacher training establishments in Canada? Maybe you could contact some places, explain the situation and see if they have any material you can use?

Sadly, we don't have any Montessori elementary teacher training centers in Canada.

There is one starting in Toronto, but alas, does it need to be Montessori materials? Because you can access a whole bunch of teacher resources online. Do you have a library account from when you lived in Ottawa? Can you get by with internet resources? If you have dropbox, I have files upon files of Canadian history/culture materials that I hoarded when I took TEFL.

My mother's absent seizures are getting worse. My brother was there today when she had one that lasted for about three minutes and he's really upset that she's going through it. My parents seem to be in a degree of denial about their various medical conditions (Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy.), have terrible diets and don't exercise. It feels like since my Dad retired they've given up. It's awful witnessing them deteriorate like this.

I got a really aggressive e-mail from my mother after I sent her a response e-mail to her writing me a graphic description of period stuff and SENDING IT TO MY WORK E-MAIL BECAUSE I HAVE TO CHECK THAT ONE REGULARLY which read "hi! I'm sorry you're dealing with that, I will write you back later, but for now can I ask you to please send these messages to my personal e-mail, as I check this one in public, often in front of my boss/professor. thank you. E"

WHICH I ADMIT MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE SHORT, but jesus fork her response was unwarranted.

under a cut because it's long: also I added a few clarifying details in italics because I am petty and feel the need to defend myself.

1) It was an accident. (it was not an accident, I've been getting 3-5 emails a day from her to this account since she's realized I have to check it every few hours)2) If your friends can (redacted because too mean) then you can deal with me accidentally sending you information about a health condition which will cause me even more struggle in getting done all that needs to be done in the next 10 days.3) Thanks so very much for your constant stream of words of kindness and understanding regarding the stress and work I am going through right now (sarcasm). 4) Bite me!5) When you don't have health insurance, are unemployed and don't have someone paying your rent (note: "someone else" = government loans ) you can be as sanctimonious as you want. (I would do it again in a heartbeat, but I would like to point out that the amount of money I have lent or given her is hovering around 12,000usd so it actually helps her that I am not unemployed) 6) For now, get off your high horse; demonstrate some empathy toward me or ...7) BITE ME!8) Oh, and let me know when you've had to go pick up the gun that was used by your best friend's son to kill himself and then bring it to the family AND then be there to support them while they sob. I just got home from doing that. (BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO THE FAMILY I GREW UP WITH's/MY OWN FRIEND's/ MY BEST FRIENDS BROTHER'S SUICIDE AT ALL. I CANT BE THERE TO OFFER THE IN-PERSON SUPPORT THAT SHE CAN AND I FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT IT EVERY DAY.)9) You may be working hard and creating wonderful art but let's be very clear - the degree of your stress level does not come close to mine - unless you're not disclosing something? 10) While you are feeling superior, ask yourself how many times you've offered to provide me with any help!?No, thank YOU!

God I'm just so mad and sad and I feel like a forking kid again when I couldn't figure out what I had done wrong. forking hell, I actually had to stop reading after item 8 because I started crying and I was at school. augh I'm just so upset! dang, I haven't really experienced these unsolicited accusations since I moved out 4 years ago.

_________________Space has stared into the tiny syrup holes of our shame and it does not judge us. - Amandabear

I can't even comprehend that, Boober. I keep reading it over thinking, no, no mom would say that stuff. Huge hugs to you. You are an amazing person, and I'm often in awe of how strong you are.

_________________I would eat Dr. Cow pocket cheese in a second. I would eat it if you hid it under your hat, or in your backpack, but not if it was in your shoe. That's where I draw the line. -allularpunk

aw man thank you guys so much for confirming that was shitty. I can never tell what's normal.

and jesus, just thank you for your constant support. I vent about shiitake to the ppk so much and you guys are so goddamn nice and supportive about it.

Boober, that is completely not normal. I use the friend test for my family. If I got that email from a friend, I would cut off contact with them. It's so hard because she's your mom but you should not have to accept that sort of abuse; she doesn't get a free pass.

Hugs to you, Boober. I know that it's difficult to deal with dysfunctional parents.

_________________A whole lot of access and privilege goes into being sanctimonious pricks J-DubDessert is currently a big bowl of sanctimonious, passive aggressive vegan enduced boak. FezzaYou people are way less funny than Pandacookie. Sucks to be you.-interrobang?!

Sounds like you have a pretty abusive relationship with your mom. As Vantine said, she doesn't get a free pass. You don't have to give money to or be an emotional crutch for someone else who doesn't get help for themself. Boundaries. If you think you did something wrong to warrant that pile of vitriol, it is , as Roseanne would say, the wrong way to think. Please get yourself some help to get out of that cycle.

Boober, my mom has done some pretty rotten shiitake to me in the past 15 years, but if she ever said those things to me I'd never speak to her again. I'm so sorry you have to deal with that abuse.

_________________No. No. fork life allatimes. - mumblesThat commercial didn't make me want to go out and buy Dove, but this thread did make me sniff my armpits. They smell like apricot. - designedtobekind

Boober, hugs. My mom has written me emails like that and theyre just awful to have to deal with. And confronting or shutting out hostile family is so much harder than hostile friends. Boo to ridiculous family!

Worst thing from yesterday: My friend came & parked in my apartment building's parking lot, which is a permit only lot but he's never had trouble before & I live right by the parking lot so we figured we'd at least hear if a tow truck came.

Nope. So we thought it was stolen, but it was just towed. I felt awful because I should've just told him to park in the street.

_________________"Vegan to me means Oreos for breakfast." -Poopiebitch"tl;dr: I quit working to drink beer paid for with gift cards" erikasoyf*cker

I brought my cat Simon to the vet yesterday evening, to a new clinic so that he could be treated by a vet who's a vegan friend of mine.

When I was completing his new-patient paperwork, the clerk asked me "When is Simon's birthday?" and I said "January of 2003, I'm pretty sure it's the 24th." And she says "Look at that, today's his Birthday!" And now I feel like a horrible kitty-mommy cuz not only did I forget my kitty's 10th birthday, I brought him to the vet for nail-clipping and a cell-scraping and a shot of antibiotics on his 10th birthday. And it was -39 Celcius yesterday. And he peed in his carrier on the way home.

_________________Yay, and verily he said unto them, "Eat this nooch for it tastes kind of like cheese, and drink this kombucha for it is awesome. And don't be a vegan hating douche because no one likes an asshat." - DancesWithTofu